Real Madrid will attempt to maintain their Champions League title defence with Tuesday night’s second leg clash against Bayern Munich at the Bernabeu.
The Spanish team are huge favourites to advance after gaining a 2-1 first leg victory in Munich last week, but that scoreline heavily flattered Zinedine Zidane’s men and a similar pattern to the game would give Bayern every chance of turning the tie around.
Both teams have injury problems with Bayern lacking Jerome Boateng and Arjen Robben, while the home team are likely to be without Isco, who trained on Monday, plus defensive duo Dani Carvajal and Nacho.
Here are the main talking points ahead of a titanic tussle between two of European football’s greatest superpowers.
Right-back problems for Zidane
Carvajal has been one of the most important players for Madrid over the last couple of years, providing determined defence at one end of the pitch and a non-stop supply of attacking pressure at the other, and his absence through injury is a big blow for Zidane.
That’s especially the case as his natural deputy, experienced utility man Nacho, has been out of action for a month with a hamstring injury and remains a big doubt despite being named in the squad after completing training on Monday.
In such a key position, defending against Bayern dangerman Franck Ribery, Zidane will surely do everything possible to get Nacho fit. But if he misses out, the other options for the coach are repositioning winger Lucas Vazquez to a more defensive role, or placing his trust in young and inexperienced Moroccan Achraf Hakimi, who has only made two Champions League appearances.
Either way, it’s a real potential area of weakness for the hosts, especially with Bayern’s excellent left-back David Alaba returning to fitness after missing the first leg, And with Marcelo’s attacking instincts always liable to provide space for opponents on the other flank, attacking down the wings could be a fruitful avenue for Bayern to focus on.
Decisions to make for Zinedine Zidane.
Who partners Cristiano?
At least moving Vazquez to the right-back slot would simplify Zidane’s decision-making process further up the pitch, with the French coach having to decide who will partner Cristiano Ronaldo – the only guaranteed attacking starter – up front.
With Casemiro, Toni Kroos and Luka Modric set to form a midfield trio, it seems likely that two places are available. Isco is all but out of the equation after failing to overcome injury, leaving Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Marco Asensio – and Vazquez if he doesn’t play in defence – contesting the remaining spots.
Bale is probably the least likely to start after falling drastically out of favour in the last few weeks, and Asensio presents a very strong case after helping turn the tie in his team’s favour with a very well taken goal in the first leg.
But Zidane could also opt to bolster his midfield, knowing that Bayern need to score at least twice, with the selection of energetic midfielder Mateo Kovacic, who has been preferred for a number of big games over recent months.
Gareth Bale is unlikely to start.
Bayern out for revenge
Bayern might be trailing and facing a mountain to climb, but Monday’s pre-game press conference made it clear that the German giants are determined to rectify a sense of injustice following last season’s controversial tie between the teams.
Forward Thomas Muller lamented that his team were sent out of the competition by two offside goals, also claiming that referees can easily become intimidated by the Bernabeu atmosphere. And manager Jupp Heynckes piled further pressure on the officials by expressing his wish that players, not refereeing decisions, determine the outcome.
As shown by Juventus in the last round, Madrid are far from unbeatable and Bayern – who are without the injured Arjen Robben – will have to decide how to measure their approach: go all out for an early goal or play the long game with a greater degree of patience?
However they decide to set about the task, one thing is for certain: the German champions have not given up yet, and if Bayern manage to score first the tie would be blown wide open once again.
Jupp Heynckes is hoping the officials don’t decide the contest.
